BLUES GO FIVE POINTS CLEAR WITH NARROW WIN
Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0
JOHN TERRY scored the second-half winner, although Nicolas Anelka is claiming it, as Chelsea took a large stride towards wrestling the title from Manchester United with a 1-0 victory in the top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge.
The man whose penalty miss in Moscow has brought much mocking from the United fans was the home hero when he got on the end of a Frank Lampard free-kick to open up a five-point lead at the Premier League summit - Anelka wants the credit for a touch and it will probably go down to the dubious goals committee to give a final verdict.
In truth, this was a phoney war until the deadlock was broken on 76 minutes. Both sides looked more determined not to lose rather than busting a gut to win and Sir Alex Ferguson's negative formation ensured his team were hardly going to penetrate a defence that has not conceded at home since the first game of the campaign.
Edwin van der Sar had rarely been troubled all afternoon but he had no answer when Terry appeared to mistime his header but still saw it nestle in the corner of the net, possibly brushing off Anelka. United will protest the free-kick award was generous, for a Darren Fletcher foul on Ashley Cole, and that Didier Drogba may have been marginally offside in front of the Dutch keeper but it matters little.
Indeed, Ferguson later claimed there was a foul on Wes Brown and the referee was in a poor position to spot it.
The cold, hard facts are his side allowed Chelsea to go well clear at the top going in to the international break, even if they were not at their best.
United have picked up the habit of failing to spark in big games away from Old Trafford. Last season's Champions League semi-final at Arsenal aside, they seem too cautious and rarely score in such fixtures, let alone win.
While this was a marked improvement on the Liverpool performance, with Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Anderson all impressive in midfield, Petr Cech only had one significant save to make - from Wayne Rooney - and even that was pretty routine.
Chelsea were not in top gear but they did not have to be. They have the look of champions and their biggest challenge could yet come from Arsenal unless United rediscover their attacking panache.
With Brown and Jonny Evans in dominant mood in defence, and Nemanja Vidic left on the bench, there were few scares even if Branislav Ivanovic tested van der Sar when he could have picked out a colleague.
Luis Antonio Valencia felt certain he deserved a penalty when Terry forced him to the ground inside the box but fussy referee Martin Atkinson ignored the appeals. It was a difficult one to call but, on second look, it did appear to be a foul from the England captain.
Giggs, disappointing throughout, prodded a fine Fletcher pass wastefully over the bar and Anelka brought a save out of van der Sar but there was little goalmouth incident to excite the fans.
In the second half, Frank Lampard and Giggs had tame headers before Rooney shot just wide after exchanging passes with Valencia.
The England striker, who finished up wearing the captain's armband, saw a curler clawed away by Cech but the winner arrived as United conceded from a set-piece for the first time in the league this term.
It proved very, very costly and, some sparky challenges aside, there was little incident of any note in the closing stages.
Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan finally came on to add a bit more punch to the visitors' attack but Evans's header from a Valencia corner proved their final attempt.
Just how important this win is will not be known until later in the season but Chelsea are firmly in the driving seat and sitting pretty at the top of the table.
Ferguson complained afterwards: "Clearly, Darren Fletcher's won the ball - Ashley Cole's never touched and has jumped up in the air - and then Drogba's pulled Brown to the ground for the goal.
"The referee's position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous, he can't see anything. He's got a Chelsea player standing right in front of him and he doesn't even move.
"It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are talking in there - it was a bad one."
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This article has 22 comments
Sir Alex did it again....blamed the referee when his team lost. Why not ask him to be a referee for just one game. A referee does not have the benefit of instant replay to make his decisions and even if he does he may not make the right ones because everything can happen in the blur of the moment. It is a wonder why anybody want to referee a football game. He must be nut if it is only for the love of the game.
By Jonatha D. Posted November 11 2009 at 10:17 AM.
I Think Man u should by a phone and call on ronaldo from Real madrid most especailly in situations when they need to score free kicks or may be he can fall in the box for then to get a penalty...
By Eddie from kampala uganda. Posted November 9 2009 at 5:48 PM.
can anybody tell me why united had no poppy on their shirts ps not a chelsea or united fan
By paul kelly. Posted November 9 2009 at 3:24 PM.
Mr. v.f.chinhema i can understand you enjoyin the feeling coz you have got nothing to enjoy for last 3 years where your team couldnt win the league and on the other hand we have won it three times and including one champions league and one final ...so i can understand u being nervous coz deep down you know we will be back to haunt chelsea dead. and also i would like to tell you that we also enjoyed similar kind of things when your jose moronhio use to cry like a baby after the games and some time kicked out of the park and in the end sayin better team lost ...we all miss his jokes
By Sheikh Asfandyar. Posted November 9 2009 at 1:41 PM.
Mr.kinky Nawana and mr.Neautral Nate i m really laughing at your footballing knowledge ...on the one hand you guys are accpeting that chelsea didnt play well ...i think its other way round manchester united didnt let them play well ...and by saying that we had 5 defensive players in the field i think its a shame on u and chelsea that we still manage to have more shots on goal than chelsea and we had a better pocession than u as well ...its very satisfying and encouraging for all united fans that without some of our senior players we still manage to out play the so called the best team in their own home ground ...and what abt drogba and terry's acting when they pretented to be injured the way drogba was lying on the field with moving his leg he has been shot and taking his last breath and ref was there to help you whenver u needed and i ll say again ...we will see when ur players will be leaving in january and u must remember we have won three consective titles even after all the black money spend by your corrupt owner ....
you will need much more points lead than just 5 points to stay at the top last year even 8 wasnt enough ;)
By Sheikh Asfandyar. Posted November 9 2009 at 1:36 PM.
Ferguson complaining again very bad looser.
By John Barry. Posted November 9 2009 at 1:11 PM.
Am not chelsea or a ManU fan, but i watch that match. i personally give credit to the ref. on his performance. Though he has some question mark over his decision, but it was both ways. Indicating that he was not taking side. The chest kick by Evans was a red card offence and a penalty.But the ref. didn't see it. The tackle of J.cole was a foul and he deserver a free kick. Man U should learn to accept defeat when it comes and not to blame it on the ref. For many seasons now, the ref. has been in their favour. So if for any reason there is a chang of heart, it should be a welcome development for the growth of the ENGLISH game.
For christ sake, these matches are on air and the whole world is watching and they see the kind of favour and oppression Man U gets from officiating.
By Stanley Williams. Posted November 9 2009 at 12:43 PM.
Its wonderful and such a good feeling to see MAN U squealing over an atrocious refreeing decision which secures the day for an opposing team.
By v.f.chinhema. Posted November 9 2009 at 11:05 AM.
I cant believe some of these United fans. You have a larger debt than Chelsea does. Your team went to draw and stuffed 5 in the middle when your chances of scoring would have been better with a 4-4-2. I think both the teams were not in top form, bare in mind they both played in the midweek. Both sides were disgraceful near the end with the tackles and elbows/punches thrown around. So United lost a match against a side that is challenging them in this league and Europe. There are a lot of games left to go and Fergies squads usually make their best run of form after boxing day. Both these teams need to move on and focus on their next game. Let It GO!!! Chelsea took the points today. The Ref had trouble controlling the players but to be a blatantly disrespectful towards the ref who did give United a fair bit of stoppage time in this game and the Manchester Derby. United Fans...Admit Chelsea are a strong side and won, no excuses. Chelsea fans... Admit it wwas a tight game and both sides negated each other in the final third. That your blues have quite a long journey before any titles or trophies are won.
Rubbish thqat these top clubs act like a sunday non league side.
By Neautral Nate. Posted November 9 2009 at 9:19 AM.
Complain all you like you Mancurians, the fact remains that Chelsea beat you and are 5 points ahead. To add on to that, Chelsea were not at their best on the day. Defeat has always been a bitter pill to swallow but surely you were not expecting to win at the Bridge! With 8 defensive players on the field....Get over it United, it just wasn't your day.No point in complaining over something that will never change..........
By Kinkay Nyawana. Posted November 9 2009 at 9:04 AM.
Second Half Stopages
Five Substituions
(including two at once)
2 mins normally allowed
one goal:
30 seconds normally allowed
Drogba hurts ribs:
2 min 45 seconds lost
giggs/ivanovic class heads
1 min 12 seconds lost
caravleo delays free kick by dribling the ball away
1 min 55 lost
Total Lost
8 min 21 seconds
Time added
5 Min 1 second
Martin Atkinson has encourged teams in future to disfigure game by wasting time,caravalleo successfuly took the time by dribbling the ball away which wasnt added in the end
By Sheikh Asfandyar. Posted November 9 2009 at 8:36 AM.
My only hopes before the game were that United did themselves justice and the officials didn't have a big effect on the game.
Well United certainly did themselves justice,they were by far the better team and deserved to win but my goodness did the officials have a nightmare.
Rooney was wrongly given offside when one-on-one with the 'keeper. Terry brought down Valencia in the box and I'm sure a penalty would've been given if it had happened at the other end and I know this is a minor thing but when Terry was on the floor with a very slight leg injury after clashing with a team mate,the referee let Chelsea have two attacks but as soon as United got the ball and were looking to break,he stopped play so Terry could get treatment he didn't need.
As for the goal,well it was never a free kick,Fletcher won the ball and Drogba may have been offside and he may have fouled a defender.
There were also a few incidents where the ref didn't give United clear free kicks and his decision to blow for full time about a minute before he should've done just took the biscuit.
I'm not too upset because I've just seen my team totally outplay supposedly the best team in the league in their own ground but I am very annoyed that we were on the receiving end of one of the worst refereeing displays I've seen in my life.
If Martin Atkinson isn't demoted to League 1 for a few games after that disgrace,then something is seriously wrong with our game.
By Sheikh Asfandyar. Posted November 9 2009 at 8:18 AM.
To us,Chelsea are still a small team from London who were lucky enough to have somebody help them buy their way to becoming a good team.
Before we go over the argument about United spending lots of money...All the money United have ever spent on players has ultimately come from their fans,not some Russian Billionaire.
Just admit you were very lucky yesterday and had a lot of help from a very poor ref. United had more shots on goal,the corner count was 7-0 to United and the fact that even with 5 or 6 players missing,United were by far the better team and totally outclassed Chelsea,suggests that Fergie won the tactical battle.
Everyone knows United are at their best after Christmas,so I think Chelsea and Arsenal will need much more than a 5 point lead over us if they're going to be confident of finishing above us.
By Sheikh Asfandyar. Posted November 9 2009 at 8:18 AM.
evans foul on drogba? lol
evans was going for the ball was drogba was going for evans directly..
watch your replays!
By Mervin. Posted November 9 2009 at 7:19 AM.
ManU can never digest defeat. They are always complaining and blaming referees every match they draw or lose. This habit of Fergusson is carried over to his players also.
Chelsea deserved it slightly more even though they were far from their best.
By Aditya. Posted November 9 2009 at 7:10 AM.
WELLDONE CHELSEA, THE BLUE BOYS DESERVE TO WIN THE 2009 TROPHY FOR EPL.
WELL PERFORM ANELKA ,ESSEIN AND JOHN TERRY DESERVE A PAT AT BACK.
VIVA BLUESSSSSSSSSSSSSS CHELSEA.
By james koma simon . Posted November 9 2009 at 6:34 AM.
fergie...i respect your team but you must know that you can't win every match...so, just accept defeat..the league still has a long journey to go....
By syuk Mas. Posted November 9 2009 at 2:27 AM.
So the MU moaners are at it already,lose a match & complain about everything.
For years you have had the refs on your side,but not anymore,Fergies big mouth come to haunt him & about time.
Why don't you just except the fact that on a level playing field you lost to a slightly better side who were not going to lie down like the sides managed by the fergie fan club.Grow up whingers.
By Kev . Posted November 8 2009 at 11:34 PM.
@ Shane Toofail
Grow up mate. Typical United, moan and groan when beaten.As for Rooney's comment, unproffessional and sour grapes. You didn't score, therefore you cant win....Simples !!!!!!! Com'n you Blues, you were superb today.
By Willie. Posted November 8 2009 at 9:36 PM.
Chelsea not on song as much as recently but still a valuable win ... Man Utd seem to be be feeling very sorry for themselves if the comment from Sir Alex are reported here correctly ... perhaps he might remember that this is football, nothing more nor less so let us keep a sense of perspective .... which is that this evening Chelsea lead the table having beaten his team
By andy b. Posted November 8 2009 at 8:38 PM.
Rooney was right at the end of the game when he shouted to the camera "12 men"!. I have never witnessed a totally inept and one-sided performance by a referee for a long time. From the start 1] Rooney was way onside on a 1:1 situation when the flag went up for offside
2] Valencia was pulled down by his shirt by Terry in full view of linesman, clear pen but not given
3] clear fouls in our favour throughout the game not given, but 50/50 quickly given to Chelsea
4] Free-kick leading to goal clearly not a freekick with us on a clear counter attack
5] Drogba pulling down Brown in box and also being offside while swinging a foot at the ball, but goal given!
Also, the kick that Drogba got from Evans was purely accidental and he came in late on Evans, hence the yellow card and the only correct decision of the night!
I think its blatant that the referees have now got an agenda versus ManU due to Fergie's outburst [valid one at that] against Wiley. This can be described as vendetta even. Fergie and us supporters need to do something as this will jeopardise our season. The referees and this mediocre one of today [Atkinson] cannot get away with pure biased officiating. Fergie has nothing to lose now [against referees and their inept boss Hackett] by going full throttle against them and also us fans by making our feelings loud and clear. That result today was pure fraud. I think its time we call international referees to officiate our games who has knowledge, respectability and impartiality, not like the ones in this country.
Even worse, I'm now calling for ManU to desist from the Premiership [finally giving all other losers a chance!] and enter/create futuristic European league obviously with us as the only English team......cant wait!
By Shane Toofail. Posted November 8 2009 at 8:16 PM.
so fergie is looking much on his side what about when drogba was chest kicked by evans ? so was that bad and the ref didnt see it, ending to a yellow card to drogba ? it was worse that yours fergie.. just accept defeat.
By Nyuchz Msanii - Blues. Posted November 8 2009 at 7:03 PM.